IWM Duxford has announced its 2018 air show season – with the chance to win a Spitfire flight if you book tickets by February 8.

Duxford will present a festival of flying for all the family in 2018, with children under 16 going free to IWM air shows.

The museum’s 2018 season kicks off with the Duxford Air Festival on the Spring May Bank Holiday weekend – Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27.

The Flying Legends Air Show offers a feast of nostalgia on Saturday, July 14 and Sunday, July 15.

The Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23, is an official partner for the Royal Air Force centenary, celebrating its famous aircraft, past and present.

Duxford Air Show. [Picture: Andrew Tunnard / IWM]

Tickets are now on sale, with a fantastic early bird offer for all air shows.

And tickets booked for either the Duxford Air Festival weekend or the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show before 11.59pm on Thursday, February 8 will automatically be entered into a prize draw to have a chance of winning a once-in-a-lifetime Spitfire flight with IWM Duxford’s pleasure flight partner Classic Wings.

This year’s Duxford Air Festival will be a feast of action-packed flying, full of speed, noise, power and thrills.

Confirmed aircraft include the Tiger Nine formation team of nine 1930s Tiger Moth biplanes and the AeroSuperBatics WingWalkers, the world’s only aerobatic formation wing-walking team.

Across the museum, visitors can enjoy a wide range of events and activities.

The Family Flight Challenge shows that it takes more than a pilot to make an aircraft fly: from scientists and engineers to designers and mechanics.

You might find yourself leaping into the air, slipping-on goggles, meeting real inventors and adventurers or working in a team to make something fly.

In Duxford’s ‘Meet the Authors’ marquee writers will discuss their current books and take questions from the audience.

The Flying Legends Air Show in July is organised and produced by The Fighter Collection.

This world-famous air show combines flying displays of remarkable historic aircraft with engaging nostalgic activities to create an authentic 1940s atmosphere at IWM Duxford’s wartime airfield.

Rare aircraft travel across the globe to take part in the Flying Legends Air Show, performing exceptional aerial spectacles.

At Flying Legends 2018, the Flying Bulls will present a five-ship formation for the first time in the UK, featuring two Alpha Jets, a B-25J Mitchell, Goodyear Corsair and P-38 Lightning.

The world-renowned balbo, a massed-formation flying display, provides a remarkable finale to the air show.

In 2018, there will be two vintage villages at the Flying Legends Air Show, offering a wide range of nostalgic entertainment.

September’s Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show brings to life the airfield’s finest hour as an important Second World War fighter station defending Great Britain from aerial attack in 1940.

The roar of Spitfires and Hurricanes over Duxford’s historic site make this a hugely engaging historic experience and a great British day out for 2018.

The Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show is an official partner of RAF 100, commemorating the centenary of the formation of the Royal Air Force.

The flying display will showcase not only the famous historic aircraft of the RAF but will also present its modern capabilities with contemporary aircraft in service today.

Entry to the award-winning IWM Duxford is included in the ticket price for all air shows.

Visitors can get up close to the aircraft that have revolutionised flight, including the futuristic Blackbird spyplane, which performed top secret operations for almost 30 years, and the B-52 Stratofortress, which stretches the length of the American Air Museum.

Iconic aircraft, including the Spitfire, Concorde and the contemporary Eurofighter Typhoon, are on display across the museum.

Tickets for all air shows must be booked in advance.

There are no on the day tickets are available.

Early bird tickets for the Duxford Air Festival are available until Sunday, May 13.

Early bird tickets for the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show are available until Sunday, September 9.

All flying is subject to weather, serviceability and operational commitments.

Kids go free when an adult purchases a ticket for the Duxford Air Festival or the Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show.